Trojan War Room: Lions Make Masterful Moves

For the second year in a row, the Detroit Lions made the most of their first two draft
choices.

Trojan War Room: Drafting the USC duo with their first two picks were both masterful
moves by the Lions.

By Doug Warren

For the second year in a row, the Detroit Lions made the most of their first two draft
choices.

If there are two things that the Lions have needed over the last four years its
been playmakers and leadership. Last season, the Lions chose big play Texas wide receiver
Roy Williams with the 7th overall pick and then moved up into the first round
to take Virginia Tech running back Kevin Jones with the 30th selection.

Williams and Jones were Detroits best two offensive players last season. They
were both playmakers and, at times, even leaders  demanding the ball and questioning
some of the dubious playcalling that, all too often, failed to utilize them.

It was clear that by the end of the season, the Lions needed more players and leaders
like Jones and Williams if they were to end the NFLs second-longest championship
drought.

Four-and-a-half months later, it looks like Matt Millen and Steve Mariucci have done
just that.

First on Saturday afternoon, with the tenth-overall selection, the Lions took a player
whom I consider the second best player in the entire draft (after QB Alex Smith); former
USC wideout Mike Williams. Williams was a player that the Lions brass didnt
expect to see on the board when their turn came. When he was there though, there was
little if any hesitation that he was the right choice.

When all is said and done, Mike Williams might even be better than Roy Williams and
Charles Rogers.

In this era of high flying flag-football where the NFL is outlawing tackling above the
armpits, any kind of downfield contact and essentially protecting QBs like the
Shroud of Turin, it was a no-brainer. Mike Williams is a 64," 230 pound player
who dominated his opponents in college. He set USCs career touchdown reception
record (30) in just two seasons. When you consider that the Trojans have also produced NFL
wideouts named Lynn Swann, Keyshawn Johnson and Johnnie Morton, that is saying something.

With the additions of veteran free agents offensive guards Damien Woody and Jeff
DeMulling, quarterback Jeff Garcia, tight end Marcus Pollard and wide receiver Kevin Johnson, along with draft choices Kevin Jones, Roy Williams and a (hopefully) healthy
Charles Rogers, over the last two seasons  Mike Williams now joins the most talented
offensive lineup the Lions have assembled since their record breaking season of 1995.

That of course was the year QB Scott Mitchell (4,338 yards, 32 TDs), WRs
Herman Moore (123 catches, 1,686 yards, 14 TDs) and Brett Perriman (108 catches,
1,488 yards, 9 TDs) and a Hall of Famer named Barry Sanders (314 carries, 1,500
yards, 11 TDs), led the Lions of then-head coach Wayne Fontes to a 10-6 record and
their third-straight trip to the playoffs (1993-95).

I know its hard to remember the playoffs around here right now, but I assure you
it happened.

The Lions did the right thing by picking Mike Williams.

Now, if they can get either Joey Harrington or Jeff Garcia to play like Scott Mitchell
 then theyll really be onto something special.

The Lions got another break when USC DE/DT Shaun Cody slipped into the second round
Saturday. The Lions traded their 2nd round choice (41st overall) and
their 4th round pick (113th overall) to the Tennessee Titans to move
up four spots to take Cody with the 37th overall choice.

Cody was a stalwart on the Trojans last two national championship teams. I felt that
going into the draft he would be gone by the time that the Lions choice came up in the
second round. I was not surprised that the Lions took a defensive lineman; although I felt
that going into the draft that the Lions would take Codys USC teammate, DT Mike Patterson, with the 41st choice. Patterson (511" 292 pounds) was
instead taken by the Philadelphia Eagles with the 31st overall pick in the first
round, while Cody continued to slip down the board.

Cody and Patterson are very similar skill wise, with the only difference being that
Cody (64" 292) is taller. Shaun Cody will excel alongside Pro Bowl DT Shaun Rogers in the Lions one-gap defensive scheme. While its possible that Cody
could start by the end of August, he doesnt need to be. I expect him to work into
the rotation slowly, sharing playing time with quality veteran DTs Dan Wilkinson and
Marcus Bell. The fact that Cody has also played defensive end extensively for the Trojans
will also help him get playing time. He is a quality replacement for the (probably)
retiring Kelvin Pritchett and will help to make the Lions defensive line one of the
leagues best next season.

On top of that, both Cody and Williams were leaders who performed at their best in big
games. They were national championship winners as collegians and their swagger, work ethic
and big game experience will add plenty to the efforts that Super Bowl winning veterans
like Damien Woody and Dre Bly have been doing to change attitude, and in turn, the
fortunes of this long underachieving franchise.